His remarks came after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warned that politicians should not mobilise civilians to guard polling stations, arguing that election security remains the responsibility of the state. “We saw Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen criticising us on the plans to guard our votes. If we vote and decide to guard our votes, is there a problem?” Speaking on August 1, Murkomen said security at polling stations rests solely with authorised state agencies and warned that the government would not permit politicians or civilians to assume that role. “We will not allow citizens or politicians from any part of the country to guard the polling stations,” Murkomen said.